Nuclear Power as fifth source of energy in Malaysia

NUCLEAR technology is often seen in a negative light by most people. However, they don't realise that there are many positive applications for this form of technology. For instance, nuclear technology has been used to increase output in agriculture and industry, in the field of medical science, it can be applied to study, non-invasively, the patient's body through x-ray, while in engineering it can be applied to non destructive testing and lots more. Sixty Four years after the atom was split, there is still talk about the need to demystify nuclear science and technology in its many peaceful applications. That a lot of fear, suspicion and uncertainty which still prevails is recognised because the atom for destruction is imprinted in people's minds.

“Malaysia is now set to use nuclear power as an alternative energy source by 2025, as it is the cheapest source of power in the long run with several government agencies were working on forming a committee to implement the policy”, Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Fadillah Yusof said.

In Malaysia application of nuclear science and technology for national development was established since 1972 through an agency known as Centre for Application of Nuclear Malaysia (CRANE) which later changed to Tun Ismail Atomic Research Centre (PUSPATI).

When PETRONAS was established on 17 August 1974 after 19 oilfields was encountered at Malaysian waters in 1973 (where 90,000 barrels per day of petroleum were withdrawn), the need of nuclear as a source of energy was put aside.

PUSPATI was then renamed to Malaysian Institute for Nuclear Technology Research (MINT) in 1994 after It was placed under Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment in 1990. Following its restructuring, MINT was then given a new identity as Malaysian Nuclear Agency (Nuclear Malaysia) in September 2006 until now.

According to the Malaysia Energy Centre (MEC), Malaysia registered a gross electricity generation of 101,325 gigawatt hours (GWh - One gigawatt hour is equivalent to one billion watts). As the country's energy bill increases because of increasing demand for clean and sustainable energy and depleting energy resources such as nation's natural gas which is expected to be exhausted by 2019, there was a need to reconsider for peaceful, safe and effective use of nuclear energy.

Should Malaysia emulate Japan in taking steps to generate electricity since nuclear power is the most viable choice as solar power, the other alternative, was still too expensive to be mass-produced? For instance to generate 1,000MW of electricity per year through solar power 100km square of area is needed, while 30 tonnes of uranium is needed for Nuclear fission.

In most issue there are pros and cons.

The popular anti-nuclearism of the 1970s and 1980s had two inestimable benefits.

Firstly, it helped end the Cold War. Just as memories were fading of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (where on Aug 6, 1945, an American bomber, named Enola Gay, dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima killing more than 100,000 men, women and children. The mushroom cloud from the blast was seen by the crew of another American plane, Jabbitt III, some 320 kilometres away), the nuclear scares of Windscale in Britain, Three Mile Island in the United States and Chernobyl in the Ukraine refreshed the popular drive to accelerate nuclear disarmament and curtail proliferation.

Secondly, it galvanised the search for alternative energy through the increasingly sophisticated exploitation of wind, water, geothermal and solar power. On these two points alone, much credit is due to those who have been devoutly opposed to the nuclear option on the basis of what can happen when such technology fails.

The lessons of Three Mile Island and Chernobyl however have been learnt and technological advances since then have made nuclear plants safe. Nuclear scientist Jong Hyun Kim claimed that nuclear reactors were so safe that if you wanted to make an aircraft as safe as a nuclear reactor, it would never fly.

The role of nuclear power plants is to stabilize and secure the supply of electricity which would also help to keep electricity prices at a reasonable level and protect the environment from harmful pollutants as a result of the massive use of fossil fuels.

Whatever decision, in my opinion, the pros and cons need to be weigh wisely before embarking on any nuclear power programme in the country for the sake of the people.

Advanced Safety Vehicle (AVS)

What if vehicle could talk? And what if they could think and react too?

Vehicles that can talk and react, sound like science fiction doesn't it? Well, it exists and it's called Advance Safety Vehicles (AVS). Although these vehicles couldn't really talk like we human do, however they could communicate with each other.

Honda Odyssey with ASV-4 (Equipped with a state-of-the-art Multi-view Camera System), Honda Forza 250 ASV-4 (Equipped with Heads-Up Display, Communication Helmet and Haptic Seat) and IT Monpal 4 (with Longitudinal Oriented Normative temporal Gap (LONG) design.)

The ASV project began way back in April 1991 as a joint collaboration between Honda Motor Co. and Japan Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

These ASVs were designed by Honda engineers to exchange speed and positional information and other data between vehicles or between a vehicle and an electric cart (vehicle-to-vehicle communications), as well as between the vehicle and road infrastructure (vehicle-to-infrastructure communications), in order to provide the drivers with information which may help to prevent fatal traffic accidents.

Honda ASVs are equipped with HMI (Human Machine Interface) technology, which utilize communications infrastructure to effectively convey information to the driver on the presence of small motorcycles and electric carts and other vehicles obscured by buildings or sharp curve motorways that would be difficult to detect based only on the use of independent on-board sensors.

The Multi-view Cameras System which was designed to help a driver observe blind spots when parking and driving through a three-way intersection or narrow road are located in the front and rear of the vehicle as well as on it's side mirrors, provides the Honda Odyssey driver with a full 360 degree view via the vehicle's navigation screen.

How ASV Helps Save Lives?

Now in its fourth phase, a number of advanced safety systems found in today's Honda vehicles - such as the Intelligent Night Vision, Collision Mitigation Brake System (CMS) and Honda Intelligent Driver Support (HiDS) were the result of the ASV program.

These safety system which was introduced in the ASV program were improvised and later Incorporated in Honda vehicles with the goal of providing 'Safety for Everyone' .

Intelligent Night Vision

Using the "far infrared" wide-angle cameras positioned in the lower section of the vehicle's front bumper, the world's first Intelligent Night Vision system which able to detect pedestrians that approach or are in the vehicle's path based on human body heat. It also able to determine the pedestrian's shape and size, a visual and audio is sounded to alert the driver of the pedestrian's presence. This system was made available on the Honda Legend, released in Japan in 2004.

Honda Intelligent Driver Support

Honda developed the Honda Intelligent Driver Support (HiDS) to help relieve driver stress. It includes the Intelligent Highway Cruise Control (IHCC), which automatically maintains a safe distance from the vehicle ahead, and the Lane-Keeping Assist System (LKAS) that prevent lane departure. HiDS was made available in the 7th generation Honda Accord and Accord Wagon, launched in Japan, in 2002.

Collision Mitigation Brake System

Collision Mitigation Brake System (CMS) is able to predict rear-end collisions and assist brake operation so as to minimise the effect inflicted on occupants and the vehicle.

By determining the like hood of a collision occurring based on driving condition, distance to the vehicle ahead and relative speeds, the system uses audio and visual warnings to prompt the diver to take preventive action. It also automatically initiates brake to help reduce the vehicle's speed further. This system was integrated into the 2003 Honda Inspire, together with the E-Pretensioner system, which retracts the seat belt in anticipation of an impact.